2020 Aston Martin Vantage on 2040-cars

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Driving the BMW M2 Competition, Honda Odyssey and Toyota RAV4 Prime | Autoblog Podcast #651

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick. This week, they talk about driving the BMW M2 Competition, Honda Odyssey and Toyota RAV4 Prime. Then they discuss James' experience testing the new Yakima CBX cargo carrier, Autoblog readers' preference for the GMC Hummer EV over the Tesla Cybertruck, and Mercedes-Benz taking a larger stake in Aston Martin. Lastly, they help James' father find a new car in the Spend My Money segment. Autoblog Podcast #651 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2020 BMW M2 Competition 2021 Honda Odyssey 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Testing the Yakima CBX Cargo Carrier on the Subaru Outback 75% of Autoblog Twitter follower prefer the GMC Hummer EV over the Tesla Cybertruck Mercedes-Benz to boost stake in Aston Martin to 20%, lend it some tech Spend JamesÂ’ fatherÂ’s money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

800-hp Aston Martin Vulcan will live long and prosper... on the track

The Aston Martin Vulcan might by one of the most beautiful creations to ever emerge from the British sports car company. Unfortunately, its status as a track-only toy limited to 24 units makes seeing one on the road practically impossible. That's a shame, too, because nothing would wake up an early morning commute better than seeing jets of flame shoot out of the side of this coupe. For the Vulcan, Aston Martin takes a 7.0-liter version of its tried and true V12 and promises to extract over 800 horsepower from it. The engine is hooked up to a six-speed sequential gearbox, and the car features all of the other necessities for a full-bore track car too. The pushrod suspension, anti-lock carbon-ceramic brakes and traction control are all fully adjustable to create the perfect balance for any circuit. Underneath, there's a carbon fiber monocoque, and the body panels are also made from the lightweight material. While the mechanicals are everything a driver could want on the track, the design is just as attractive. The styling takes the taut lines from Aston Martins of the last decade and sharpens everything to look futuristic. The pointed, orange filaments making up the taillights are an especially cool touch. The brand promises to reinterpret this look for future models, so we might still see inspiration of it on the road. Give it a thorough look in our live gallery above from the floor at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

Aston Martin DB9 GT breaks cover

Based on recent spy shots, it appears that the Aston Martin DB9 might be nearing retirement. Thankfully, the British sportscar brand isn't letting the high-performance grand tourer wither on the vine until a replacement arrives. Instead, the company is launching the most powerful version of the model yet with the introduction of the DB9 GT at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. With its tuned 6.0-liter V12 getting an extra 30 ponies to push output to 540 horsepower, the DB9 GT certainly doesn't lack for power, and that muscle routes through the brand's six-speed Touchtronic II gearbox. The potent powertrain can launch the luxurious model to 60 miles per hour in a claimed 4.4 seconds and to a reported top speed of 183 mph. The latest model offers more than just a performance upgrade, though. On the outside, the DB9 now wears a black front splitter and rear diffuser. It also rides on new 10-spoke, 20-inch wheels, and you can spot black-anodized brake calipers just behind them. For a further flourish, GT is engraved on the aluminum fuel cap, and if all of that isn't enough, buyers can spec a plethora of optional, carbon-fiber trim. Inside, the GT's big upgrade is a switch to Aston Martin's latest AMi II infotainment system. It features a revised menu structure that the company claims makes working the tech more user-friendly. This DB9 delivers on luxury too with fluted-leather seats and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel. The DB9 GT is available for order now, and the price for the additional power and luxury in the US starts at $199,950. It's not the only Aston Martin receiving some attention, though, because the 2016 model year examples of both the V8 Vantage and Rapide S also get the AMi II system. They benefit from new color and upholstery options, as well. Aston Martin reveals DB9 GT – the ultimate in bespoke grand touring New GT model showcases the very best of DB9 Most powerful DB9 to date with 540 bhp from 6.0-litre V12 engine Colour, trim and equipment additions for Vantage and Rapide S models 24 June, 2015, Gaydon: Aston Martin is today revealing the DB9 GT – the luxury British sports car maker's most compelling production 'DB' to date. Designed to offer the best of what DB9 can be, the new car delivers world-class grand touring and hand-built excellence.